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What is a Reverse Forecast Bet?

A Reverse Forecast bet - sometimes abbreviated simply to RF - is almost exactly the same as a straight forecast bet except the finishing order does not matter. A Reverse Forecast still consists of two selections in the same event that you believe will finish in first and second, but it does not matter in which order they finish in, just as long as the two selections occupy the first two places. 

The stake in a reversed forecast bet is double that of a regular bet. So, if you wanted to bet £10 on each selection, you would actually be betting £20. This is because you are essentially placing two bets on your selected race participants. One bet is on Selection A to finish in first and Selection B to finish in second, and the other is on Selection B to finish in first and Selection A to finish in second.

As there is more than one way for you to win this bet, Reverse Forecasts are a fairly easy bet to place and understand the outcomes. 

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Reverse Forecast Example

To apply the principles of a Reverse Forecast bet to an example scenario, you could place this kind of bet on a greyhound race and select greyhound 5 and greyhound 8 as your two picks. If you wanted to place a £5 stake per selection, the figure is doubled to £10 as, under the rules of a reversed forecast bet, you are placing two bets:

• The first bet has greyhound 5 finishing in first place and greyhound 8 finishing in second place
• The second bet has greyhound 8 finishing in first place and greyhound 5 finishing in second place

If either of these scenarios happened, you would win your bet.

In some scenarios, one of the selections in your reverse forecast bet could be declared a non-runner and be ruled out of the race. If this happens, your bet is still intact, but it becomes a single at the SP of the remaining selection. In other words, if greyhound 8 were to be declared a non-runner, the reversed forecast bet would become a single on greyhound 5 to win the race. If that happens, you win your bet under the terms of a traditional single bet.

Other terms and conditions apply for other scenarios like this, so it’s well worth checking with your bookmaker to understand the ramifications of all possible consequences before betting.

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Variations of Reversed Forecast Bets

There are a number of different kinds of forecast bets, which vary slightly in terms, in comparison to the reversed forecast bet. To avoid confusion, it is important to understand these differences.

A Straight Forecast bet is ‘stricter’ than a reversed forecast bet. Under this kind of bet, the bettor must predict first and second in the exact order they finish. If the selections are reversed or if one of the selections does not finish within the top two, the bet is lost. 

A Combination Forecast bet is more open, more complicated and more expensive to place. In a combination forecast bet, you are betting on a wide variety of potential outcomes with three participants rather than the two that are available in a straight forecast bet and a reversed forecast bet.

You may hear the term Reverse Forecast mentioned alongside phrases such as Exacta, Perfecta, Exactor and Quinella. These terms are not generally used in the UK. They are North American terms used to describe bets that are very similar in nature to Straight Forecasts and Reverse Forecasts. 

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Other Kinds of Multiple Bets

A Reverse Forecast is a form of multiple bet and there are a lot of different types of multiple that will involve difference combinations of bets and selections.

You can find full descriptions of all the different types of multiple bets, and worked examples in our Bet Terminology Guide or by selecting the bet type below!

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